Nearly 5,000 health professionals, Medi-Cal recipients, advocates, and lawmakers rallied at the State Capitol this week to encourage Governor Brown to restore the Medi-Cal reimbursement rate cuts caused by Assembly Bill 97. The event featured the Chief Executive Officers of the California Medical Association and the California Hospital Association, the President of SEIU-UHW, and Assemblymember Bonta and Senator Hernandez, the members of the Legislature carrying the legislation that would repeal the Medi-Cal reimbursement rate cuts. RCRC attended the rally and expressed the importance of restoration of the Medi-Cal reimbursement rates to lawmakers and Budget negotiators attending the event.
AB 97 was a 2011-12 State Budget Trailer Bill which cut rates to a variety of Medi-Cal provider, including Distinct Part/Skilled Nursing Facilities (DP/SNFs), pharmacies, and other fee-for-service Medi-Cal activities by 10 percent off of the 2008 reimbursement rates. RCRC’s press release promoting the rally can be accessed here.